Jumbalaya Jeans Kit (Fashion Angels Enterprises $18 Score:) There is enough great stuff here to decorate the hems and legs of two pair of jeans with a great assortment of beads, fabric trims, and appliqués. Our parent tester noted that once you add appliqués, jeans can't be machine washed. 8 & up.

Betty's Begin to Sew Sets(Quincrafts $4.99 Score:) Small affordable kits for trying out a variety of needle crafts. This is a good way to develop kids fine motor skills, the dexterity needed for penmanship. Once they make these beanbags they can play with them too. The bean bag sets feature a Dolphin or Butterfly and come with plastic safety needle and precut holes for easy sewing. 5 and up. For more advanced sewers, Make Your Own Teddy Bear ($7.99) makes a very pleasing 9 inch bear. 8 and up.

Beginning Stitcher Deluxe Set(Quincrafts $12.99 Score:) Try your hand at needlepoint, cross stitch, and sewing with this set. Comes with safe plastic needle, a needlepoint keychain and picture frame, and two square grids (one for cross stitch, one for needlepoint). New for this year, Make Your Own Teddy Bear with Scarf ($8.99) now comes with yarn, needles, and instructions for making a scarf for the bear. 9 & up.

Potholders and Other Loopy Projects(Klutz $16.95 Score:) Don't look any further, this is the best potholder set on the market. The supplies are vibrant and inviting and the book really does explain what to do. Weaving not only develops eye-hand coordination, it also involves following patterns and problem solving. Marked 6 & up, we'd say more like 7 & up.

Fashion Angels(Fashion Angels Enterprises $24.99 Score:) Our 9- and 11-year-old testers worked seriously to make original costumes for the set of four super-sized fashion angels that come in a kit with fabric, patterns, glitter, trims, and glue for making very cool outfits. Sturdier than paper dolls, players need dexterity, patience, and the ability to deal with details. 8 & up. Slightly easier and more flexible, Groovy Girls Design Studio Woodkins (Pamela Drake $19.99) comes with one "woodkin" style doll with wooden frame that lifts and closes down to hold the fabric and trims. It comes with scissors, glitter, stickers, and lots of details for designing special outfits that are easy to keep changing. 8 & up.

Super Embroidery Kit(Alex $19.99 Score:) Packaged in a red felt bag with a pocket, this is a charming sewing set for beginners. There’s an embroidery hoop and one practice cloth for trying out stitches as well as a dozen colors of floss, scissors, needles, transfer patterns to iron on, felt letters, shapes, and pieces to decorate with beads and sequins. A clear stitching guide is included. They have even included some buttons for practical needle-work. Marked 7 & up, we’d say more like 9 to ’tweens. (800) 666-2539.